Digitizing your physical photos is a great way to preserve memories, share them easily, and declutter your space. Did you know your iPhone is a powerful scanner right in your pocket? You don’t need a separate app or device to scan photos and documents. This guide will show you how to use the built-in Notes and Files apps to quickly scan photos on your iPhone.
Scanning Photos Using the Notes App
The Notes app on your iPhone is not just for jotting down quick thoughts. It also includes a handy document scanning feature that works perfectly for photos. Here’s how to use it:
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Open Notes and Start a New Note: Launch the Notes app on your iPhone. You can scan a photo into an existing note or create a new one specifically for your scanned photos.
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Access the Scan Feature: In your chosen note, look for the Attachment button. It’s usually located above the keyboard and looks like a “+” icon. Tap it, and a menu will appear. Select “Scan Documents” from the options.
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Position Your Photo: Place the photo you want to scan on a flat surface and position your iPhone camera over it.
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Capture the Scan: If your iPhone is in Auto mode (which is the default), it will automatically detect the edges of your photo and scan it. You’ll see a yellow box appear around the photo as it’s recognized. If you prefer manual control, tap the Shutter button (the white circle at the bottom) or press one of the Volume buttons to capture the scan.
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Adjust and Keep Scan: After capturing, you might need to adjust the corners of the scanned image to precisely fit your photo. Drag the circles at each corner to crop as needed. Once you’re satisfied, tap “Keep Scan”.
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Save or Scan More: You can tap “Save” to finalize the scan and insert it into your note. If you have more photos to scan, tap “Save” after each scan to compile them into a single document within your note.
In Notes with iOS, you can scan documents with your iPhone camera.
Alternatively, within an open note, you can also tap the More button (the three dots in a circle, usually at the top right), and then select “Scan” to start the scanning process.
Scanning Photos Using the Files App
The Files app is another convenient way to scan photos directly on your iPhone, especially if you want to save them directly into your file system. Here’s how it works:
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Open the Files App: Locate and open the Files app on your iPhone.
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Initiate Scan Mode: In the Files app, tap the More button (usually three dots in a circle, located in the top area depending on your current view). From the menu that appears, choose “Scan Documents”.
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Scan Your Photo: Just like with the Notes app, position your photo in view of the camera. Your iPhone will automatically scan if in Auto mode, or you can manually capture the scan using the Shutter button or Volume buttons.
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Adjust and Keep Scan: Adjust the corners if necessary to perfectly frame your photo, and then tap “Keep Scan”.
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Save Your Scanned Photo: Tap “Save” to save the scanned photo as a PDF file in your Files app. You’ll be prompted to choose a location to save the file, such as iCloud Drive or “On My iPhone.” You can also add more scans to the same document before saving.
Tips for Best Photo Scanning Results
- Good Lighting: Ensure your photos are well-lit when scanning. Natural light is ideal, but avoid direct sunlight which can cause harsh shadows.
- Flat Surface: Place your photos on a flat, stable surface to prevent blurring and ensure a clear scan.
- Clean Lens: Make sure your iPhone camera lens is clean for optimal image quality.
- Experiment with Modes: If Auto mode isn’t working perfectly, try manually capturing the scan to have more control over the process.
- Editing: After scanning, you can use photo editing tools within the Photos app or other apps to further enhance your digitized photos, adjusting brightness, contrast, and color as needed.
Conclusion
Scanning photos on your iPhone is incredibly straightforward thanks to the built-in capabilities of the Notes and Files apps. Whether you choose Notes for quick integration into notes or Files for direct file saving, you can efficiently digitize your precious photos and keep them safe and accessible right on your device. Start scanning your photos today and enjoy the benefits of having your memories digitally preserved!
